Bitter lemon

Bitter lemon is a carbonated soft drink flavoured with quinine and lemon. It is the quinine that gives this drink its bitter taste. The sole difference between tonic water and bitter lemon is the addition of the lemon flavour. Bitter lemon is produced by several soft drink companies:

• U.K.
  • Schweppes
  • Somerfield
  • Tesco
• Netherlands
  • London (United Soft Drinks)
  • Royal Club (Vrumona)
• France
  • Gini (Schweppes France)
• U.S.A.
  • Canada Dry (Dr Pepper/Seven Up)
• Africa
  • Krest (Coca-Cola)
• Australia
  • Schweppes

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Weighing the right way

What is the Sensitivity of my Balance?

Schweppes introduced its brand of bitter lemon in 1957.

Canada

In Canada, bitter lemon was available under several brand names in the 1960s. In the 1980s, Canada Dry discontinued all of its small-market products which contained lemon juice, including Collins Mixer and Bitter Lemon. The brands were not allowed to make the transition to 2-litre plastic bottles.

Bitter lemon is no longer readily available in Canada.

See also

• Tonic water